Author
Topic: ...Screening (Read 178 times)

The man was enjoying the scenery,When it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.He remembered dying and that the dog walkingBeside him had been dead for years.He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stoneWall along one side of the road.

It looked like fine marble.At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall archThat glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificentGate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl andThe street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he gotCloser, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

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When he was close enough, he called out,?Excuse me, where are we??

?This is Heaven, sir,? the man answered.

?Wow! Would you happen to have some water??The man asked.

?Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll haveSome ice water brought right up.?The man gestured, and the gate began to open.?Can my friend,? gesturing toward his dog,?come in, too?? the traveler asked.

?I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.?

The man thought a moment and then turnedBack toward the road and continued the wayHe had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of anotherLong hill, he came to a dirt road leading through aFarm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.

There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside,Leaning against a tree and reading a book.

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?Excuse me!? he called to the man.?Do you have any water??

?Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there,Come on in.?

?How about my friend here?? the travelerGestured to the dog.

?There should be a bowl by the pump,? said the man.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, thereWas an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a longDrink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked backToward the man who was standing by the tree.

?What do you call this place?? the traveler asked.

?This is Heaven,? he answered.

?Well, that's confusing,? the traveler said.

?The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'??Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearlyGates? Nope. That's Hell.?

?Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that??

?No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who wouldLeave their best friends behind.?